Datuk Seri Roland Sagah at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly complex. - ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE/The Star
KUCHING: Sarawak secondary schools will begin teaching Science and Mathematics in English starting 2026, says Datuk Seri Roland Sagah.
The state Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister said that year would see the first cohort of students learning Science and Mathematics in English in primary schools entering Form One.
Sarawak's dual language programme (DLP) for Science and Mathematics to be taught in English began in 2020 with Year One pupils.
Sagah said the Education Ministry had agreed for Sarawak secondary schools to use English as the medium of instruction for Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Additional Mathematics.
He said this was one of several pivotal points agreed to by the ministry in the devolution of education powers to Sarawak.
"Guided by our Attorney General's Chambers, my ministry and the Education Ministry are in the process of formalising these agreed-upon points into circulars and regulations to ensure their adherence and continuity in the future," he said in his winding-up speech at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly on Monday (May 13).
The DLP was first implemented in 2016 to allow schools the choice of using English as a medium of instruction in Science and Mathematics subjects as part of the Upholding Malay Language and Strengthening English policy.
Sagah also said his ministry was in the process of planning standardised assessments for Year Six pupils to start next year and Form Three students by 2028.
This will replace the Ujian Penilaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) and Pentaksiran Tingkatan Tiga (PT3) examinations, which have been scrapped by the Education Ministry in favour of school-based assessments.
"Our planned assessments will only involve the subjects of English as well as Mathematics and Science which are taught in English under our DLP. The first cohort of 2020 will sit for the assessment in 2025.
"To ensure the quality and standard of the assessment, my ministry is now in discussions with an international accredited assessment provider, due to be concluded soon," Sagah said.
